A cobpobation



Oct. 23, 1928.

N. M. SMALL ET AL CAN GRID Filed Oct. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffii/illy LeonBueher; Jr

Oct. 23, 1928.

1,689,060 N. M. SMALL ET AL CAN GRID Filed Oct. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :Inventow NormanMSma 1 l Leon Buehln Jr:

Patented @et 23, 1928.

air stars NORMAN M. SMALL AND LEON BUEHLER, JR., OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO FRICK COMPANY, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN GRID.

Our said invention relates to a can basket such as is used in ice making for holding a set of cans while the ice is formed therein. It is desirable in such an operation to hold the set of cans rigidly in relation to one another until the freezing operation is completed and thereafter to manipulate the entire set simultaneously to dump the blocks of ice. The primary object of our invention is to provide improved means for introducing air into the cans adjacent the lower end thereof whereby the ice is caused to freeze clear and without objectionable white portions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a can grid with cans therein as used in a medium or high pressure system, parts ofthe cans being broken away or omitted for the sake of clearness,

Figure 2, a detail showing a connecting device in front elevation looking across the can grid,

Figure 3, a side elevation of the same device,

Figure 4, a section on line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5, a section of a connector at the end of the can grid,

Figure 6, a. section similar to Figure 4 but showing a modified form of connection,

Figure 7, a section on line. 7 7 of Figure 6,

Figure 8, a perspective of a can grid of modified form as used in a low pressure system,

Figure 9, a detail of a tting used at the end of a grid such as shown in Figure 8, and

Figure 10, a detail of another fitting in said figure.

In the drawings reference character 1() indicates the side members of the can grid, said members being spaced from each other and secured together by means including upper spacers 1l arranged at intervals along the length of the can grid. Lower spacers 12 are arranged at the eXtreme lower edges of side members 10, so as to encircle each can and support the same against relative downward movementby engagement with a Serial No. 50,896.

13 at the upper end of the can 14 secured to or made integral with the can and resting on the lower spacers 12 as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. rlhis feature enables us to use a can of standard depth instead of a special deep can as used in all so-called can grid systems with which we are familiar. Horizontal bars 15 are secured, as by means of screws made of brass or other non-rustingT material, to the side members at a little dist-ance above the spacers 12 said bars serving to hold the cans rigidly in place against upward movements away from said spacers. The screws being non-rusting, the bars can readily be removed at any time.

It will be understood that the parts hitherto described constitute in effect a single unit and may be manipulated as such, the can grid being positioned as a whole in the freezing compartment and when the freezing operation has been completed, being lifted, dipped in warm or hot water and tilted so as to dump all the blocks of ice at one time.

For introducing air into the cans adjacent the lower end thereof we provide means comprising an air pipe or header extending lengthwise of the can basket and here shown as secured to one of the members 10. This conduit is formed so as to l'ie flatagainst the side member and as here shown may be rectangular in section. Adjacent each can we have provided a brass fitting 17 which is secured by screws 18 to a side member 10.

The screws are located one above and one below the air header and clamp the fitting against the header in a manner to hold the header securely against the side member 10. A rubber gasket 19 is interposed between the header and the litting said gasket having a passage registering with a port in the wall of the header and with a passage 20 extending horizontally into the fitting. A vertical passage 21 extends upward at the end of the passage 2O and this in turn communicates with another horizontal passage 22 from which the air emerges into a downwardly inclined passage 23 connected by a pipe composed of a plurality of sections of rubber or metal 24, 25, 26 and 27 to any suitable port near the bottom of the can. Ordinarily the section 24 will be made4 of 'metal and will have a threaded or other tight lit in the gigas-sage 23 'affile the section will be of rubber stripped over the end section 24.

A. screw 28 has threaded engagement in the vertical passage 21 and said screw'has a transverse passage registering with passage 22 and a vertical passage leading thereto trom the lower end ot passage 21 with a reduced opening at 29 tor lowering the pressure of the air in the passage coininuiiicating with the can. It will be seen that the fitting 17 has a threefold function in that it helps to secure the header 16 to the can grid, it supports the rubber tube 25 and connected parts and it serves as a pressure reducing device tor the air.

In the preferred ttorin ot the invention ay fitting 30 is provided adjacent one end of the header said litting being held in place by a pair ot screws 18 and havingy av passage 31 registering with a port in the header, arubber gasket being interposed between said deviies at the `inne-tion ot said port and passage. The fitting 8O has circumferential threads at 32, as usual, for holding the end ot a rubber hose 33 in place.

In the operation of the device so tar described air is admitted through the hose .'33, thence through the passage 31 in iittingV 30 to the header 1G from which it emerges through the latei'al ports into the various littings 17 and it goes thence into the pipes leading to the bottom ot the respective cans where it bubbles up through the water in well-known Amanner 'for the familiar purpose of causing' the water to t'orm clear ice in lfreezing. The function of screw 2S ot' a iitting is obviously t'or the purpose ot clearing the air passage ot any clogging that is liable to occasionally take place within the screw by reason ot the reduced passage at 29. lVhen this occurs the screw can readily he removed vand cleaned.

In the modified form of Figures 6 and 7 we have shown a device similar to that oit Fig. 4 by the employment oit which the need `for a connection such as shown in Figure 5 is eliminated. The Vtitting 34 shown in these iigures is held in place by screws 18 and is provided with a gasket 19 having an opening registering with the port in the header 16 and a passage 35' in the fitting. The ttingis'provided with an expanded.

nozzle having circumterential threads at 36 as in Figure 5to support an air supply hose. A passage leads upward, then horizontally and then obliquely downward from the passage substantially as in F igure4 for connection to a pipe leading downward into a freezing can as above described and this passage is provided with a screw 28 substantially as previously described. Then this device is used a supply hose is connected to part to the passage leading to the freezing 'can corresponding to the fitting in question.

It will be seen that the single litting 34 takes the place of the fitting 30 and one of the fittings 17' in'Figure 1.

In theV modiied form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 the cans 37 are ot ordinary type and are mounted as before between trame members 1(7), the cans being supported by bars 12 attached to the side members 1() at their extreme lower edges. Bars 15 are provided above the rims- 13 oit the cans in position to hold the cans rigidly down against the bars 12, the bars 15 being preferably secured to the side members by inea'ifisloi brass screws 15 or other non-rusting devicesl A header 16 similar to that of Fig. 1 is attached to one of the side members 10 at the inner side ot such member. The header is held `in place by a number' of `titti'ngfsylt, 39 which straddle the header andare secured to the side member 10 by means of screws 40. It will be seen that the header is rectangular in section as in Figure 1 and that the fittings have 'flat faces bearing against lgasket 41 which is perforated to register with openings in awall ot the header and in the' iittings.

Each of the fittings is provided with a pair ot' nipples, thel nipples 42 rand 430i Fig. 9 being intended respectively forattachment Otan air supply pipe 44 and a .pipe 45. The pipe 45 connects with a depending pipe 46 at or near the center'voi'ttlie can, which pipe in this instance is arranged to swing for `reasons 4which will be understood by those skilled 4in the art. l/Vitli this end in view the pipe 46 is suspended from a yoke 47 which has a passage communicating at one end with tubing 45. The yoke is sivingably supported by a bracket 48 'held in place on the rimot the can byvmealns ot' a spring clip 49. It will be observed that the passage through the nipple 42 considerably larger than thatv through the nipple 43 for obvious reasons. IVhere the number of cans is an even number a fitting according to the disclosure ot F 8 may be used with the nipple 43 and the corresponding passage omitted.

The iitting shown in detail in 10 is intended to bearranged 'between two cans in the set as shown in Fig. 8. It differs from the litting of Fig. 9 in that it has a pair ot similar nipples 50 tor attachment of a pair of tubes 45 for the two adjacent cans so that one fitting serves two cans. In certai'ncases as where an. odd' number' of cans is used or where it is desired to supply' Veach can separately a fitting may be substituted for that of Fig. 10 with but a. single nipple 5() for attachment Otan air hose.

It will be obvious to vthose lskilled in the art that various'changes may be made in our the nozzle and an' enters by the passage 35V passing thence in part to 'the header and in dev'icewithout departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore we do i not limit ourselves to what is shown in the draivings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A grid for holding a plurality of freezing cans comprisinga frame, means on the inner surface of the frame for supporting said cans, a header on the inner surface of the frame above said supporting means, and means for supplying air from the header to the respective cans, substantially as set forth,

2. A grid for supporting freezing cans comprising a frame having parallel side members, means on the inner side of the members for holding said plurality of cans against up and down movement relatively to said side members, a header at the inner side of one of said side members, means for supplying air to the header, and means for supplying air from the header to the respective cans, substantially as set forth.

3. A grid for ice cans comprising parallel side members, transverse spacers including means for supporting the cans in the grid, means on the side members for holding the cans against relative up and down movement, a header on the can grid between the ide members, means for supplying air to the header', and means for supplying air from the header to the respective cans, substantially as set forth.

si. A grid for a set of ice cans comprising means for holding said set including a member extending alongside the set of cans, a header rectangular in section lying against said member, a plurality of fittings straddling the header, means for securing the fittings to said member, means for supplying air to the header, pipes extending from the fittings into the cans. and passages leadin through a Wall of the header and through the fittings to said pipes, substantially as set forth.

5. A grid for a set of ice cans comprising means for holding said set including a member extending alongside the set of cans, a header rectangular in section lying against said member, a plurality of fittings straddling the header, means for securing the fittings to said member, pipes extending from the fittings into the cans, passages leading through a Wall of the header and through the fittings to said pipes and means for supplying air to the header including a noz- Zle on one of said fittings, substantially as set forth.

6. In a can grid, a plurality of cans arranged side by side, a pair of frame members at opposite sides of the set, cross pieces connecting said frame members, a flat header secured to the inner side of one of said frame members, a plurality of fittings having fiat faces resting against a side of the header, and tubes communicating with said header said tubes being supported by said fittings and extending into the respective cans, substantially as set forth.

7. A grid for ice cans comprising a frame, means at the extreme lower edge of the frame for supporting said ice cans, a header secured to the inside of the frame above said cans, and means for supplying air from the header te the respective cans, substantially as set forth.

8. In a can grid, a frame, a plurality of cans in the frame, a depending air-tube arranged centrally of each can, an air header mounted on one side of the frame, fittings securing the header to said frame and having air passages communicating with passages in a Wall of the header, and tubes leading from said fittings to said depending tubes, substantially as set forth.

9. In a can grid, a frame, a plurality of cans in the frame, a depending air-tube ar ranged centrally of each can, an air header mounted on one side of the frame, fittings securing the header to said frame and ha 7ing air passages communicating with passages in a Wall of the header, and a pair of tubes leading from a fitting to a pair of said depending tubes, substantially as set forth.

l0. ln a can grid, a frame, a plurality of cans in the frame, a depending air-tube arranged centrally of each can, an air header mounted on one side of the frame, fittings securing the header to said frame and having air passages communicating with passages in a Wall of the header, a nipple on the fitting for a tube leading' to one of said depending tubes, and a larger nipple on the fitting for attachment of an air supply pipe, substantially as set forth.

1L A grid for a set of ice cans comprising a frame for holding a set of cans including a member extending along the set of cans, an air header rectangular in section lying against said member, fittings straddling the header and securing the same to said member, and pipes extending from the fittings into the cans, substantially as set forth.

ln Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands at l/Vaynesboro, Pennsylvania this 29 day of September, A. D. nineteen hun.- dred and twenty-five.

NORll/IAN M. SMALL. LEON BUEHLER, Jn. 

